'Put down that cell phone,' cop advises
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Ron Johnson doesn't want to knock on any doors this Christmas.

That's why Lance Cpl. Johnson, of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, is hoping motorists will heed some simple advice as the Christmas holiday approaches. Slow down, stay sober, and put down the cell phone when you're behind the wheel, he said.

Make sure you have a plan to get home safely if you plan to drink during the holidays, he said. Make arrangements with a designated driver or call a friend, family member or a cab. A late night call for a ride is better than the alternative.

"The last thing anyone wants is for us (police) to show up at their door to advise family members that someone lost a life because they didn't have a plan," he said.

Watch posted speed limits and always use a seatbelt, he added. Speeding lessens your ability to react to situations.

And for folks traveling to a holiday destination, Johnson advises that you should keep your eyes and mind on the road.

"You multi-task when you're driving a car anyway," he said. "What we try to encourage folks to do is slow down, take your time, put your seatbelt on and pay more attention to your driving and less on what you're going to do when you get to your destination."

Just like speeding, adding extra distractions like a cell phone can limit your ability to react to trouble.

Highway Patrol and local police will be out in full force for the holidays, conducting checkpoints and looking for indicators of drunk driving.

While every holiday poses some type of problems, the Christmas season combines congested roadways with holiday parties.

"We do see (drunk driving) go up this time of year," Johnson said.

As of early this week, there had been 947 fatal crashes this year in South Carolina which claimed 1,030 lives. Generally, about half of all fatal crashes are alcohol-related.